Computer and Business Articles
Tons of informative business and computer articles

Featured Articles
Networking and the Internet

Retail Equipment & Supplies
    Beauty & Salon Equipment
    Labeling & Tagging Supplies
    Mannequins & Dress Forms
    Racks & Fixtures
    Security & Surveillance
    Shopping Carts & Baskets
    Other

Computers
    Acer
    Alienware
    Asus
    Dell
    Gateway
    HP, Compaq
    IBM, Lenovo
    Sony
    Whitebox, Custom Systems

Apple Computers & Components
    Apple Accessories
    Apple Desktops
    Apple Laptops & Notebooks
    Apple Networking
    Apple Printers, Scanners & Ink
    Vintage Apple
    Other

Plastics
    Auxiliary Process Equipment
    Injection, Blow Molding
    Molds, Dies
    Raw Materials & Scrap
    Other Items

Manufacturing & Metal Working
    Manufacturing Equipment
    Metalworking Equipment
    Metalworking Tooling, Supplies
    Process Equipment
    Metals & Alloys
    Semiconductor & PCB Equipment
    Textile & Apparel Equipment
    Welding
    Other

Printers
    HP
    Canon
    Epson
    Lexmark
    Brother
    OKI
    Xerox
    Dell

Printer Supplies & Accessories
    Cleaning, Repair Kits
    Feeders, Trays
    Ink Cartridges
    Ink Refill Kits
    Ink Ribbons
    Laser Drum Cartridges, Fusers
    Laser Toner
    Power Supplies
    Print Heads
    Printer Memory
    Printer Paper
    Sign Vinyl
    Other

Office Products
    CD-R, DVD-R, Blank Media
    Copiers & Copier Supplies
    Fax Machines & Supplies
    Microfilm & Microfiche
    Office Equipment
    Office Furniture
    Presentation, AV, Projectors
    Shredders
    Supplies & Small Equipment
    Trade Show Displays
    Other Office Products
    Wholesale Lots

Industrial Equipment, MRO
    Adhesives & Sealant
    Cleaning Equipment & Supplies
    Commercial Radios
    Compressors
    Fasteners & Hardware
    Forklifts & Other Lifts
    Forklift Parts & Accessories
    Government & Public Safety
    HVAC
    Hydraulics & Pneumatics
    Lighting & Lasers
    Industrial Automation, Control
    Manuals, Books
    Forklifts & Material Handling
    Painting Equipment & Supplies
    Motors, Transmissions
    Professional Tools & Hardware
    Pumps & Plumbing
    Pumps
    Safety & Security
    Wholesale Lots

Manufacturing & Metal Working

Welding

Welding Article

Welding is a fabrication process that joins materials, usually metals or thermoplastics, by causing coalescence. This is often done by melting the workpieces and adding a filler material to form a pool of molten material (the weld puddle) that cools to become a strong joint, with pressure sometimes used in conjunction with heat, or by itself, to produce the weld. This is in contrast with soldering and brazing, which involve melting a lower-melting-point material between the workpieces to form a bond between them, without melting the workpieces.

Many different energy sources can be used for welding, including a gas flame, an electric arc, a laser, an electron beam, friction, and ultrasound. While often an industrial process, welding can be done in many different environments, including open air, underwater and in space. Regardless of location, however, welding remains dangerous, and precautions must be taken to avoid burns, electric shock, poisonous fumes, and overexposure to ultraviolet light.

Until the end of the 19th century, the only welding process was forge welding, which blacksmiths had used for centuries to join metals by heating and pounding them. Arc welding and oxyfuel welding were among the first processes to develop late in the century, and resistance welding followed soon after. Welding technology advanced quickly during the early 20th century as World War I and World War II drove the demand for reliable and inexpensive joining methods. Following the wars, several modern welding techniques were developed, including manual methods like shielded metal arc welding, now one of the most popular welding methods, as well as semi-automatic and automatic processes such as gas metal arc welding, submerged arc welding, flux-cored arc welding and electroslag welding. Developments continued with the invention of laser beam welding and electron beam welding in the latter half of the century. Today, the science continues to advance. Robot welding is becoming more commonplace in industrial settings, and researchers continue to develop new welding methods and gain greater understanding of weld quality and properties.